Method of and apparatus for producing ink transfer members



May 29, 1934.'

G.'E. PELTON METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING INK TRANSFER MEMBERS Filed Oct. ,8, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l R mm mm R INVENTO 5E ELTN. 4

ATTO NEY.

G. E. PELTON May 90, 1094.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING INK TRANSFER MEMBERS Filed Oct. 8, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE" METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRO- DUCING INK TRANSFER MEItIBEItS George E. Bolton, HartfordyConh.

Application October 8, 1930, Serial No. 487,308

17 Claims. (01. 91-70) My invention relates to methods of and approved means hereinafter described in their pasparatus for producing ink transfer members. sage along the frame 3, in such manner that It has among its objects to provide improved each fabric is coated with a cellulose derivative methods of and apparatus for producing ink and ink on one surface and ink on the other transfer members of various kinds, including surface and also slit into the desired ribbon 60 those having ink retarding surface coatings or widths and otherwise treated. Attention is also films and, more particularly, for producing typedirected to the fact that both sets of ribbons writer ribbons, including those having ink rethus produced are finally wound on a, roll 4 with tarding surface coatings or films and including. their inked faces together and the several layers 10 various kinds of inked ribbons used on typeon the roll spaced apart by paper 5 (substan- 65 writers and other typing machines. One object tially non-absorbent and incapable of reducing of my invention is to provide an improved the ink content of said ribbon) fed from a suitmethod of and apparatus whereby ink transfer able underlying paper roll 6. members of superior quality and of the various More particularly considering the course of the kinds described and claimed in my Patent fabric from the roll 1, it will be noted that the 1,732,187, may be inexpensively produced in same first passes from the latter roll to and bequantity production. These and other objects tween suitable guides 7 and horizontally there-' and advantages of my improved construction from. It will also be observed that after passwill, however, hereinafter more fully appear. ing between these guides 7, the fabric is passed In the accompanying drawings, I have shown under a cellulose hopper 8 adapted to apply to diagrammatically for purposes of illustration, the upper surface of the fabric a coating of a three embodiments of equipment adapted to cellulose derivative such as described in my precarry out my improvements. viously mentioned patent. After thus being coat- In these drawings,-- ed, the fabric passes to an oven 9, preferably of Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of substantial length, as, for example, 45- feet, so the complete mechanism, with certain of the that the solvent in the coating material may be frame and other elements omitted to facilitate completely evaporated. After passage through illustration; this oven 9 the fabric passes under an ink hopper Figure 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic view 10 which supplies to its upper surface a heavy of the slitter mechanism; bodied thick, slow-flowing ink adapted to give Figure 3 is a similar view of the roll mechathe utmost clearness of color. After receiving nism; this ink coating, the fabric next passes to another Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 showin elongated oven 11 substantially corresponding to a modified construction, and the oven 9 and acting to dry the ink coating. Figure 5 is a similar view showing a modified Thereafter the fabric next passes to a slitting construction. machine indicated at 12 which slits the fabric In this illustrative construction shown in Figinto the desired ribbon widths. This slitter may ures 1 to 3, it will be observed that I have shown be of any suitable type, but is preferably a standa continuous mechanism longitudinally dis- 'ard Cameron slitting machine of the type whereposed a d p t ve upon fabric fed from rolls in gum is fed to the slitting knife edges in such 40 at one end of the device in such manner that manner as to produce a non-ravelling edge, and

the ribbons are produced and suitably wound wherein also, as usual in such machines, an elecin rolls at the opposite end of the device. trically heated roll is provided acting upon the Considering the structure generally, it will be slit fabric as it emerges from the slitting maobserved that a plurality of wide fabric rolls 1 chine. After itspassage from the slittingimam0 and 2 is provided and herein suitably journaled chine 12, the slit fabric next is turned over or in parallel relation on one end of a frame 3 reversed. Herein, it is passed through a series with the roll T inside the roll 1. It will also of adjacent upstanding deflecting pins 13 adaptbe observed that the fabric, which may be of any ed to reverse the fabric, although it will be undersuitable silk, cotton or other material described stood that in working on a long length of fabric in my previously mentioned patent, is fed from disposed in the machine as set forth, these pins these rolls horizontally along the frame with may in certain instances be omitted, sinceamere the fabric A from the roll 1 disposed above that manual twist once inserted in the moving fabric B from the roll 2-. It will also be noted that will be retained and produce the desired reversal 55 both fabrics A and B are acted upon by imthereof without the pins. When it is reversed,

i. e. with its previously uncoated and uninked surface then uppermost, this latter surface is then inked, preferably with an ink containing quite a little oil and being a highly fluid, liquid, oily, fast-flowing typewriter ribbon ink and adapted to enter the fibre and increase the life of the ribbon. Herein, it is passed under an ink hopper 14 preferablyof the type having a scraper 15 therein. Thereafter, the fabric is again reversed either by a series of reversing pins 16 corresponding to the pins 13 previously described, or manually. After this reversal, it next passes through a series of pull rolls 1'? and through an apertured guide 18 to the roll 4 on which it is wound with the wet surface last coated with ink toward the roll, and the surface first coated with ink retarding material and then with ink and subsequently dried, on the outside of the roll.

Next considering the fabric from the roll 2, itwill be noted that the same first passes through guides 20 corresponding to the guides '7 and under a coating hopper 21 c'0rresponding to the hopper 8 and thereafter through the same oven 9 previously described but at a point below and spaced from the upper fabric. Thereafter the fabric is also inked with a heavy bodied thick, slow-flowing ink and baked dry as previously described in connection with the upper fabric, passing under an ink hopper 22, and also likewise passed through the oven 11 under the upper fabric and substantially spaced therefrom. Thereafter, the lower fabric also passes through a slitting machine 23 similar to the machine 12 previously described and having the same function, the machines 12 and 23 herein being connected by a comon chain and driven from a single motor. Upon emerging from this machine, the lower fabric is then reversed either by means of a series of pins 24 corresponding to the pins 13 or manually, and after reversal is then inked by ink of the same character applied by the ink hopper 14, passing under a similar hopper 25 having a similar scraper.

ward into engagement with the surface of the.

upper fabric inked by the hopper 14 and wound with that fabric on the roll 4, with the wet oily, inky surfaces together and the opposite dry cellulose coated and inked surfaces of the fabrics outside and spaced from one another by the paper 5 drawn off the roll 6.

In connection with the drive of the slitting machines and rolls, it will be noted that herein I have shown the slitting machine 12 and slitting 'machine 23 to be driven from the same motor 30 beneath the frame 3 through a chain 31. It will also be observed that this chain drives a machine operated driving member 32 on the machine 12 which is rotated with a slightly faster surface speed than a corresponding member 33 driven by the chain 31. Similarly, it will be observed that the rolls 1'7 and 26 are driven froma single motor 34 and that the driving member 35 of the roll 17 is driven at a slightly faster surface speed than the driving member 36 of the roll 26. Attention is also directed to the fact that the driving members 32 and 35 are driven at the same surface speed with the rolls 33 and 36. Thus the slitting machine and rolls operating on the upper fabric operate at the same speed, while the slitting machine and rolls operating on the lower fabric also operate at the same, speed, but with a slightly lower surface speed than in the case of those operating on the upper fabric. Obviously, while this surface speed relation may be obtained by the use of separate motors as shown, it will also be evident that it'may be obtained through various different forms of driving. mechanism other than the particular separate motor and chain connections shown.

With the ribbons thus wound on the "roll 4 with their wet inked surfaces together and their dry cellulose ink retarding coated surfaces and dry inked surfaces spaced by paper, it will be evident that it is possible for the ink on the engaging surfaces on the ribbon to set in such manner as to produce a highly satisfactory ribbon, while the cellulose ink retarding coated surfaces (each having a top coat which is extremely thin, for very sharp, neat impressions of rich color and very clear, said top coat being of very dry, baked ink, which is perfectly clean and does not soil the hands) are protected by the paper. also be evident that they are very conveniently and compactly disposed in the form of a new and convenient roll on which they remain while the wet, oily, highly penetrating, liquid ink with which the body portion of each ribbon is saturated and which covers one surface of each ribbon, sets and becomes less messy and oily and smudgy. After the ink has thus set for a period of suitable length, depending upon the kind of ink used, it will also be evident that the ribbons may be separated asthey are drawn off from each roll and separatelywound, cut, and otherwise prepared for distribution and use in the manner described in my previously'mentioned patent, i. e. with the dry coated, ink retarding surface (upon which is anextremely thin layer or coating of very dry ink) of the ribbon placed against the, paper or other suitable, substantially non-absorbing material. I

As a result of my improvement, it is made possible to produce a ribbon of the new type-described in mypatent, and of superior quality, and to produce the same very economically with a minimum of attention on the part of the ma-. chine operator. It will also be observed that due to the treatment of the fabric, the same is so handled as to minimize waste or objectionable stickiness or smudging or soiling the coated, inked face while at the same time obtaining a satisfactory. coating and impregnation of the fabric with the ink retarding coating material and inks. Attention is also directed to the large production made possible with eachunit constructed and operated in accordance with my improvement. It will also be evident that the width as desired, and that the width of the other mechanism may be similarly varied in such manner as to divide the two fabrics into as many ribbons as desired of any desired width.

In Figure 4 I have shown a modified construction which may be used if desired under certain conditions, as where it is desired to use a fabric previously coated'with said ink retarding cellulose coating material or a fabric uncoated with same. In this construction it will be observed that the structure is the same as that previously described save that I have omitted the cellulose coating hopper and the oven associated therewith and shown therewith in Figure 1. In Figure 5 I have also illustrated a further modified construction also useful in connection with 1,960,647 fabric previously coated with ink retarding mathat shown in Figure 4.

The ribbons and ink transfer'members herein described, when ready for use, therefore, have ink on one face which has been thoroughly dried by means of an oven as illustrated in the drawings herein mentioned, ,and the body portion of each ribbonis fully saturated and filled with oily, liquid, fast-flowing typewriter ribbon ink. It is plain, of course, that the latter ink when first put into the ribbons makes the fabric very wet and smeary and smudgy and messy and this oily ink has to set. The dry ink described herein is an extremely thin, surface layer of ink and is simply for use to write with until the ink in the fabric (or reservoir of ink located in said fabric) begins to work through the ink retarding surface coating which lies directly underneath the said dry ink and between the large body of ink contained in the highly absorbent fabric and said dry ink, and

said dry ink is of such character as to give extremely neat writing or impressions of the utmost clearness and good color. This type of ink retarding ribbon is simply one of the kinds which may be produced more economically and more efiiciently by my new methods and with the use of my new, improved apparatus and. equipment. Other t pes of ink retarding ink transfer members may be advantageously and more economically produced by my new methods, as well as ink transfer members generally and of various types,

and kinds and I do not in any way limit myself to the ink retarding ink transfer members of my various patents.

' While I have herein specifically described three forms of my invention, it will be understood that the embodiments described herein are used for illustrative purposes, and that the invention may be modified and embodied in other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

- ing the latter when reversed, again reversing one of the same, and bringing said last mentioned inked portions together.

3. The method of making ink transfer members which comprises feeding a plurality of wide sheets of inked fabric in superimposed relation through slitting machines, reversing the slit portions, inking the latter when reversed, again reversingone of the same, bringing said last, mentioned inked portions together, and spooling said united portions with a filler between each layer.

4. The method of making ink transfer members which comprises inking one surface of a plurality of strips offabric, baking each of the same, slitting each of the same, inking the other surface of the same, and winding the slit portions together with said last mentioned surfaces in engagement.

5. Themethod of making ink transfer members which includes the steps of inking a face of a wide fabric which is less absorbent than the opposite slitting said fabric into ribbons, providing a nonraveling edge, inking the opposite face of each ,ribbon with a penetrating ink was to impregnate the-fibres of said fabric ribbons with ink without soiling the dry face of each ribbon and winding face of said fabric, drying said inked fabric,'

said ribbons in pairs with the dry faces separated by a spacing material to prevent soiling orsmudging.

6. The method of making ink transfer "members which includes inking a plurality of members on' one surface only, winding said members with the wet or moist inked surfaces together and retaining them together until the ink sets.

7. The method of making ink transfer members from a wide fabric having one face more absorbent than the other face so as to effect a series of strips each having one, dry, inked face and one heavily inked face, which comprises: (a) inking said wide fabric on the less absorbent face (b) drying said inked fabric (0) slitting said fabric into'strips of. the desired width (d) and simultaneously fastening the edges of each strip against raveling (e) inking the opposite surfaces of said strips heavily (1) winding said ink transfer members in such manner as to bring the heavily inked, moist faces togetherand with another web orfabric or material of suitable kind protecting the dry, inked faces against smudging.

'8. The method of making ink transfer members which consists and comprises (a) feeding in parallel relation a plurality of coated webs of fabric each carrying dry ink on the coated face,

and (b) slitting the same (c) fastening the edges against-raveling (d) reversing the slit pieces (e) inking the opposite surfaces of the slit pieces heavily (f) winding said 'slit pieces with the heavily inked faces in contact.

9. The method of making ink transfer members which includes coating one surface of a widev fabric with ink-retarding material, drying said coated surface, inking said coated surface with a heavy bodied ink, drying same, slitting .the wide fabric into strips, fastening the edges of said strips against raveling, inking the other face of each strip with a penetrating. ink, and winding the ink transfer members in pairs with the dry faces separated by a spacing material to prevent soiling and smudging.

10. The process as in claim 9 wherein the spac-' ing material is fabric material.

11. The method of making ink transfer members which includes coating one surface of a,

wide fabric with ink retarding material, drying said coated surface, inking said coated surface with a-heavy bodied ink, drying same, slitting the wide fabric into strips, fastening the edges of said strips against raveling, inking the other face of each of said strips with a penetrating ink, and winding each strip in such a manner as to avoid smudging or soiling the coated surface of said strip'.

12. The method of making ink transfer members according to claim 11 wherein the strips ing and slitting the fabric, and impregnating the strips through the other face with a penetrating ink.

14. The method of making ink transfer members which includes providing an absorbent fabric 16. The method of making ink transfer members which includes providing an absorbent fabric having an ink retarding coating on one face, inking said face with a superficial coating of a. heavy-bodied ink, drying and slitting the fabric, gumming the out edges of the strips, reversing the faces of the strips and applying to the uninked faces a penetrating ink.

17. The method of making ink transfer members which includes providing strips of absorbent fabric having an ink retarding coating on one face thereof, applying a penetrating ink to, the uncoated faces of said strips and winding the strips in such manner as to prevent smudging or soiling the faces which carry the ink retarding coating.

GEORGE E. PELTON. 

